knowing L from R/aging/responsibility

[Dennis Greene <dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Barbara,

You wrote:

> (Pssst) <whispering> Hey Dennis.... I'm FINALLY admitting
(reluctantly!) that
> forgetting words, names, etc. is NOT always caused by PD.  That
type of memory
> loss is ALSO due to (shuddering at the thought of poor Dennis being
having to
> come to grips with this...) <wee smirk>  the encroaching years.
> So maybe you're just... uhhhhhh... getting... ummmmm... OLDER,
m'friend (and

I'm with you all the way Barbara, old friend, in fact I wrote:

> I'm not sure whether this is age, PD, or lazyness

in the posting in which I first mentioned my being directionally
challenged (newspeak for lost). And boy am I hanging out for age (its
highly unlikely to be lazyness - I have managed to be lazy and still
know which way to turn, for years). But you are of course right.  It
is too easy to blame PD for everything that happens to us.  Truth is
its not THAT important.  It just feels that way.

But at the risk of getting serious, this opens yet another of those
ubiquitous cans of worms.  As the person responsible for my health
can I afford to ignore a symptom, which MAY be an indication of the
worsening of my PD, just because it probably is not. Obviously its a
matter of degree. Take the case in hand as an example. My thinking
is:

1.      Memory loss in a PWP is probably attributable to the normal absent
mindedness associated with getting older.
2.      However it could be an early sign of cognative impairment.
3.      I have been forgetting names and where I put my keys and even my
car, for some time and I have put that down to getting older.
4.      However, in my subjective opinion, the latest development is on a
different level and whilst I'm pretty sure it still falls within the
boundries of 'normal', I would be foolish not to run it past the more
objective, and better informed, scrutiny of the neurologist.
5.      I am constantly looking for the midpoint between hypochondria and
denial.  Some times I veer to one side, sometimes to the other, but
as I am aiming for the midpoint hopefully I don't end up too near
either extreme.

(Now then let me see.  Where did I leave my reading glasses? Funny
how I didn't need reading glasses until after I got PD.  I
wonder............. I mean it can't be age - can it?)

Dennis.

*************************************************
Dennis Greene 48/10
dennisg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

**************************************************